UTSA announces VP for university advancement

(Dec. 11, 2007)--UTSA President Ricardo Romo announces Marjie M. French will join UTSA as vice president for university advancement effective Jan. 28, 2008. French comes to UTSA from the University of Texas at Dallas where she has served as vice president for development since June 2005.

A development professional with more than 15 years of experience at public research institutions, her service includes 10 years with the University of Texas at Austin and three years with the University of Houston.

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French succeeds Janice Odom, who served as interim vice president for university advancement since July 2007. Odom will return to her previous assignment as director of development for foundation and organization relations.

French's university advancement career includes management experience in development, alumni relations and communications with leadership roles in two university multi-million dollar comprehensive capital campaigns and personal major gift solicitations and acquisitions from both state and national charitable foundations.

"Marjie brings a tremendous amount of professional experience, a can-do attitude and an infectious enthusiasm for higher education," said Romo. "I am delighted she will be joining UTSA to lead our university advancement team during this critical juncture, as we all work toward propelling UTSA into the ranks of premier public research universities."

"I am honored to join President Romo and the UTSA advancement team," said French. "The vision of UTSA to become a premier research institution while providing access to educational excellence is extremely compelling to me personally. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work every day, 24/7, to help UTSA reach its full philanthropic potential."

A native Texan, French has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. At UT Dallas, she supervised all aspects of development including operations, alumni relations, major gifts, annual fund, communications and endowment services. Under her supervision, total giving increased by 50 percent and alumni participation increased by 70 percent.

As associate director of development at UT Austin, French managed the Dallas major gift program for the UT Austin $1.6 billion "We're Texas" campaign. Additionally, she supervised fundraising that led to the creation of the Real Estate Finance Center at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business.

At the University of Houston, she supervised development programs for both the Honors College and the College of Architecture during the university's $350 million creative partnership campaign.